OntarioPassed43rd Parliament, 1st Session

Bill 162 explained in plain English

Get It Done Act, 2024

Finance & Taxation Environment & Climate Transportation & Infrastructure

Ontario legislature bill summary, status, timeline, sponsor, votes, and official sources.

How This Type of Bill Becomes Law Official source

At a glance

Jurisdiction

Ontario Legislature

Legislature / Parliament

Legislative Assembly of Ontario

Session

43rd Parliament, 1st Session

Bill number

Bill 162

Full title

Get It Done Act, 2024

Current status

Passed

Latest event

Royal Assent received

Last updated

May 16, 2024

Sponsor

Prabmeet Singh Sarkaria

Official Legislative Assembly of Ontario snapshot for 43rd Parliament, 1st Session. Representative vote breakdowns appear when the Assembly publishes an Ayes and Nays page for the bill.

Chamber

Legislative Assembly of Ontario

Current Stage

Royal Assent received

Latest Activity

May 16, 2024

Sponsor

Prabmeet Singh Sarkaria

Plain-language explanation

In plain English (our explanation)

Our plain-language take, written for civic education.

Source: By PoliticalData.ca

AI-assisted, reviewed before publishing

Short Version

The Get It Done Act, 2024 enacts new rules for carbon pricing programs requiring referendums for approval, and amends various other laws related to transportation, official plans, and taxpayer protection.

What It Means

The Get It Done Act, 2024 enacts the Protecting Against Carbon Taxes Act, 2024 and makes amendments to several other Ontario acts. The new Act requires that any new carbon pricing program, or any authority to create one, must be approved by a referendum. It also sets out rules for referendums and campaign organizations. Amendments to existing acts include changes to the Highway Traffic Act regarding vehicle permits and a new fee for driver's licences, as well as a new fee for photo cards. The Act also prohibits tolls on Crown highways unless authorized by an Act and makes changes to official plans for several municipalities. The Taxpayer Protection Act is amended to exclude bills or regulations covered by the new Protecting Against Carbon Taxes Act.

What This Bill Does

Enacts the Protecting Against Carbon Taxes Act, 2024, which requires a referendum to authorize new carbon pricing programs or the authority to create them.
Sets out rules for referendums, including requirements for referendum questions, campaign organizers, contributions, and expenses.
Amends the Highway Traffic Act to introduce new rules and fees for driver's licences and vehicle permits.
Amends the Photo Card Act, 2008 to introduce a new fee for photo cards.
Amends the Public Transportation and Highway Improvement Act to prohibit tolls on highways where the road authority is the Crown, unless authorized by an Act.
Makes changes to official plans for several municipalities.
Amends the Taxpayer Protection Act, 1999 to state that it does not apply to bills or regulations under the new Protecting Against Carbon Taxes Act, 2024.
Makes consequential amendments to the Election Act and Election Finances Act.

Who Is Affected

Members of the public who may be involved in or affected by carbon pricing programs.
Drivers and photo card holders in Ontario.
Municipal governments and their planning departments.
Individuals and entities involved in referendum campaigns.
The Government of Ontario and its ministries.
Crown agencies acting as road authorities.
Taxpayers.
Campaign organizers, chief financial officers, and auditors involved in referendums.

Rights, Duties, Or Obligations

The requirement for a referendum to authorize new carbon pricing programs or the authority to establish them.
The obligation for drivers to pay a $7.50 fee for each six-month period their licence is valid.
The obligation for photo card holders to pay a $3.50 fee for each six-month period their card is valid.
The prohibition on charging tolls on Crown highways unless authorized by an Act.
The requirement for individuals or entities intending to organize a referendum campaign to register with the Chief Electoral Officer.
Restrictions on who can contribute to referendum campaigns and the limits on contribution amounts.
The obligation for campaign organizers to report their campaign finances.
The obligation for the Crown to ensure tolls on its highways are authorized by an Act.

Important Dates

The Get It Done Act, 2024 received Royal Assent on May 16, 2024.
Most provisions of the Act came into force on the day it received Royal Assent (May 16, 2024).
Some provisions in Schedule 2 (Highway Traffic Act) related to vehicle permits and specific French language amendments come into force on a day to be named by proclamation.
Schedule 3 (Official Plan Adjustments Act, 2023) is deemed to have come into force on December 6, 2023.
Schedule 4 (Photo Card Act, 2008) comes into force on a day to be named by proclamation.
The referendum date must be at least 28 days and not more than 56 days after a writ of referendum is issued, and must be a Thursday.

Financial Or Tax Impacts

Introduces a fee of $7.50 for each six-month period (or part thereof) for a driver's licence.
Introduces a fee of $3.50 for each six-month period (or part thereof) for an Ontario Photo Card.
Specifies limits on campaign contributions to referendums ($7,500 per indexation factor per result).
Specifies limits on campaign expenses in electoral districts.
States that the costs of the Chief Electoral Officer related to a referendum are payable from the Consolidated Revenue Fund.
The Protecting Against Carbon Taxes Act, 2024 requires referendums, which involve costs, and may lead to the establishment of new revenue-generating carbon pricing programs if authorized.

Enforcement Or Penalties

Contravention of provisions related to driver's licences can result in fines of not less than $100 and not more than $1,000, or not less than $250 and not more than $2,500 for commercial motor vehicles.
Contraventions of the Protecting Against Carbon Taxes Act, 2024, including failing to register as a campaign organizer, accepting improper contributions, or violating campaign expense limits, can result in fines for individuals (up to $25,000 or imprisonment) and entities (up to $100,000).
Offences related to referendum campaigns are outlined in the Protecting Against Carbon Taxes Act, 2024.

Uncertainties Or Limits

The exact wording of future referendum questions for carbon pricing programs is not determined by this Act.
The timing for the commencement of certain provisions within the Highway Traffic Act and the Photo Card Act, 2008 is subject to proclamation by the Lieutenant Governor.
The Act states that a referendum does not compel a subsequent government to implement a carbon pricing program.
The extent of 'industrial greenhouse gas emissions program' changes that are exempt from the referendum requirement under the new Act is not fully detailed.
The specific 'prescribed circumstances' for changing permit statuses, validation periods, or expiry dates under the Highway Traffic Act will be defined by future regulations.
The Act mentions an 'indexation factor' for campaign contribution and expense limits, which is determined under section 40.1 of the Election Finances Act, implying these limits may change over time.

Laws Or Regulations Affected

Environmental Assessment Act

amends

Clarifies that 'acquiring property or rights in property' includes acquisition by purchase, lease, expropriation, or otherwise.

Source: Schedule 1, Section 1

Highway Traffic Act

amends

Introduces new rules for vehicle permit validation, including when validation can be refused, and specifies that expired or suspended permits are not valid. It also introduces a fee of $7.50 for each six-month period or part thereof for a driver's licence. Makes changes to French language definitions related to vehicle axles and modifies provisions related to discharges under the Criminal Code.

Source: Schedule 2

Official Plan Adjustments Act, 2023

amends

Re-enacts sections of the Act to modify how official plans and amendments are approved for several municipalities, including specific changes to land use, boundaries, and policies for cities like Barrie, Guelph, Hamilton, Ottawa, and regions like York and Halton.

Source: Schedule 3

Photo Card Act, 2008

amends

Introduces a fee of $3.50 for each six-month period or part thereof that a photo card is valid.

Source: Schedule 4, Section 1 (2)

Protecting Against Carbon Taxes Act, 2024

enacts

Establishes new rules for carbon pricing programs, requiring a referendum to authorize their creation or the delegation of authority to create them. It also sets rules for referendums, campaign organizers, and related financial reporting.

Source: Schedule 5

Public Transportation and Highway Improvement Act

amends

Prohibits tolls from being charged for travel on a highway where the road authority is the Crown, unless the toll is specifically authorized by an Act.

Source: Schedule 6, Section 1

Taxpayer Protection Act, 1999

amends

States that the Taxpayer Protection Act, 1999 does not apply to a bill or regulation to which the Protecting Against Carbon Taxes Act, 2024 applies.

Source: Schedule 5, Section 22

Election Act

amends

Makes consequential amendments related to the administration of referendums under the Protecting Against Carbon Taxes Act, 2024.

Source: Schedule 5, Section 20

Election Finances Act

amends

Makes consequential amendments related to the administration of referendums under the Protecting Against Carbon Taxes Act, 2024, including provisions for assisting campaign organizers and modifying reporting requirements.

Source: Schedule 5, Section 21

Generated using AI from official bill text. Not legal advice. It is written by PoliticalData.ca for civic education, automatically checked and spot-reviewed before publishing.

Official text

Process Snapshot

Step 1

First reading

Feb 20, 2024

Step 2

Second reading

Apr 15, 2024

Step 3

Committee review

Apr 15, 2024

Step 4

Third reading

May 8, 2024

Step 5

Royal assent

May 16, 2024

Vote Summary

Yes

Abstain

Absent / Other

Final recorded vote

May 8, 2024

105 representative positions are recorded in this official snapshot for this vote.

Sponsor

Prabmeet Singh Sarkaria

Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario | Brampton South

Jurisdiction

Ontario Legislature

Representative Voting Breakdown

Vote badges include text labels so the table stays readable for everyone, even without color cues alone.

Representative	Role	Riding	Party	Vote	Notes
Amarjot Sandhu MPP	MPP	Brampton West	Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario	Yes	Recorded without an additional note.
Andrew Dowie MPP	MPP	Windsor—Tecumseh	Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario	Yes	Recorded without an additional note.
Anthony Leardi MPP	MPP	Essex	Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario	Yes	Recorded without an additional note.
Aris Babikian MPP	MPP	Scarborough—Agincourt	Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario	Yes	Recorded without an additional note.
Billy Pang MPP	MPP	Markham—Unionville	Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario	Yes	Recorded without an additional note.
Brian Riddell MPP	MPP	Cambridge	Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario	Yes	Recorded without an additional note.
Brian Saunderson MPP	MPP	Simcoe—Grey	Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario	Yes	Recorded without an additional note.
Christine Hogarth MPP	MPP	Etobicoke—Lakeshore	Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario	Yes	Recorded without an additional note.
Daisy Wai MPP	MPP	Richmond Hill	Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario	Yes	Recorded without an additional note.
Dave Smith MPP	MPP	Peterborough—Kawartha	Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario	Yes	Recorded without an additional note.
David Smith MPP	MPP	Scarborough Centre	Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario	Yes	Recorded without an additional note.
Dawn Gallagher Murphy MPP	MPP	Newmarket—Aurora	Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario	Yes	Recorded without an additional note.
Deepak Anand MPP	MPP	Mississauga—Malton	Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario	Yes	Recorded without an additional note.
Effie J. Triantafilopoulos MPP	MPP	Oakville North—Burlington	Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario	Yes	Recorded without an additional note.
Goldie Ghamari MPP	MPP	Carleton	Independent	Yes	Recorded without an additional note.
Hardeep Singh Grewal MPP	MPP	Brampton East	Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario	Yes	Recorded without an additional note.
Hon. Caroline Mulroney MPP	MPP	York—Simcoe	Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario	Yes	Recorded without an additional note.
Hon. Charmaine A. Williams MPP	MPP	Brampton Centre	Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario	Yes	Recorded without an additional note.
Hon. David Piccini MPP	MPP	Northumberland—Peterborough South	Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario	Yes	Recorded without an additional note.
Hon. Donna Skelly MPP	MPP	Flamborough—Glanbrook	Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario	Yes	Recorded without an additional note.
Hon. Doug Downey MPP	MPP	Barrie—Springwater—Oro-Medonte	Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario	Yes	Recorded without an additional note.
Hon. Doug Ford MPP	MPP	Etobicoke North	Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario	Yes	Recorded without an additional note.
Hon. Ernie Hardeman MPP	MPP	Oxford	Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario	Yes	Recorded without an additional note.
Hon. George Pirie MPP	MPP	Timmins	Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario	Yes	Recorded without an additional note.
Hon. Graham McGregor MPP	MPP	Brampton North	Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario	Yes	Recorded without an additional note.
Hon. Graydon Smith MPP	MPP	Parry Sound—Muskoka	Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario	Yes	Recorded without an additional note.
Hon. Greg Rickford MPP	MPP	Kenora—Rainy River	Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario	Yes	Recorded without an additional note.
Hon. Jill Dunlop MPP	MPP	Simcoe North	Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario	Yes	Recorded without an additional note.
Hon. Kevin Holland MPP	MPP	Thunder Bay—Atikokan	Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario	Yes	Recorded without an additional note.
Hon. Kinga Surma MPP	MPP	Etobicoke Centre	Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario	Yes	Recorded without an additional note.
Hon. Laurie Scott MPP	MPP	Haliburton—Kawartha Lakes—Brock	Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario	Yes	Recorded without an additional note.
Hon. Lisa M. Thompson MPP	MPP	Huron—Bruce	Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario	Yes	Recorded without an additional note.
Hon. Michael Parsa MPP	MPP	Aurora—Oak Ridges—Richmond Hill	Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario	Yes	Recorded without an additional note.
Hon. Michael S. Kerzner MPP	MPP	York Centre	Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario	Yes	Recorded without an additional note.
Hon. Mike Harris MPP	MPP	Kitchener—Conestoga	Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario	Yes	Recorded without an additional note.
Hon. Natalia Kusendova-Bashta MPP	MPP	Mississauga Centre	Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario	Yes	Recorded without an additional note.
Hon. Neil Lumsden MPP	MPP	Hamilton East—Stoney Creek	Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario	Yes	Recorded without an additional note.
Hon. Nina Tangri MPP	MPP	Mississauga—Streetsville	Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario	Yes	Recorded without an additional note.
Hon. Nolan Quinn MPP	MPP	Stormont—Dundas—South Glengarry	Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario	Yes	Recorded without an additional note.
Hon. Paul Calandra MPP	MPP	Markham—Stouffville	Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario	Yes	Recorded without an additional note.
Hon. Peter Bethlenfalvy MPP	MPP	Pickering—Uxbridge	Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario	Yes	Recorded without an additional note.
Hon. Prabmeet Singh Sarkaria MPP	MPP	Brampton South	Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario	Yes	Recorded without an additional note.
Hon. Raymond Sung Joon Cho MPP	MPP	Scarborough North	Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario	Yes	Recorded without an additional note.
Hon. Rob Flack MPP	MPP	Elgin—Middlesex—London	Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario	Yes	Recorded without an additional note.
Hon. Sam Oosterhoff MPP	MPP	Niagara West	Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario	Yes	Recorded without an additional note.
Hon. Stephen Crawford MPP	MPP	Oakville	Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario	Yes	Recorded without an additional note.
Hon. Stephen Lecce MPP	MPP	King—Vaughan	Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario	Yes	Recorded without an additional note.
Hon. Steve Clark MPP	MPP	Leeds—Grenville—Thousand Islands and Rideau Lakes	Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario	Yes	Recorded without an additional note.
Hon. Sylvia Jones MPP	MPP	Dufferin—Caledon	Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario	Yes	Recorded without an additional note.
Hon. Todd J. McCarthy MPP	MPP	Durham	Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario	Yes	Recorded without an additional note.
Hon. Trevor Jones MPP	MPP	Chatham-Kent—Leamington	Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario	Yes	Recorded without an additional note.
Hon. Victor Fedeli MPP	MPP	Nipissing	Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario	Yes	Recorded without an additional note.
Hon. Vijay Thanigasalam MPP	MPP	Scarborough—Rouge Park	Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario	Yes	Recorded without an additional note.
Jess Dixon MPP	MPP	Kitchener South—Hespeler	Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario	Yes	Recorded without an additional note.
John Jordan MPP	MPP	Lanark—Frontenac—Kingston	Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario	Yes	Recorded without an additional note.
John Yakabuski MPP	MPP	Renfrew—Nipissing—Pembroke	Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario	Yes	Recorded without an additional note.
Laura Smith MPP	MPP	Thornhill	Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario	Yes	Recorded without an additional note.
Lisa MacLeod MPP	MPP	Nepean	Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario	Yes	Recorded without an additional note.
Logan Kanapathi MPP	MPP	Markham—Thornhill	Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario	Yes	Recorded without an additional note.
Lorne Coe MPP	MPP	Whitby	Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario	Yes	Recorded without an additional note.
Matthew Rae MPP	MPP	Perth—Wellington	Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario	Yes	Recorded without an additional note.
Michael D. Ford MPP	MPP	York South—Weston	Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario	Yes	Recorded without an additional note.
Natalie Pierre MPP	MPP	Burlington	Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario	Yes	Recorded without an additional note.
Patrice Barnes MPP	MPP	Ajax	Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario	Yes	Recorded without an additional note.
Rick Byers MPP	MPP	Bruce—Grey—Owen Sound	Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario	Yes	Recorded without an additional note.
Robert Bailey MPP	MPP	Sarnia—Lambton	Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario	Yes	Recorded without an additional note.
Robin Martin MPP	MPP	Eglinton—Lawrence	Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario	Yes	Recorded without an additional note.
Rudy Cuzzetto MPP	MPP	Mississauga—Lakeshore	Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario	Yes	Recorded without an additional note.
Sheref Sabawy MPP	MPP	Mississauga—Erin Mills	Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario	Yes	Recorded without an additional note.
Stéphane Sarrazin MPP	MPP	Glengarry—Prescott—Russell	Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario	Yes	Recorded without an additional note.
Todd Smith MPP	MPP	Bay of Quinte	Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario	Yes	Recorded without an additional note.
Vincent Ke MPP	MPP	Don Valley North	Independent	Yes	Recorded without an additional note.
Will Bouma MPP	MPP	Brantford—Brant	Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario	Yes	Recorded without an additional note.
Aislinn Clancy MPP	MPP	Kitchener Centre	Green Party of Ontario	No	Recorded without an additional note.
Andrea Hazell MPP	MPP	Scarborough—Guildwood	Ontario Liberal Party	No	Recorded without an additional note.
Bhutila Karpoche MPP	MPP	Parkdale—High Park	New Democratic Party of Ontario	No	Recorded without an additional note.
Bobbi Ann Brady MPP	MPP	Haldimand—Norfolk	Independent	No	Recorded without an additional note.
Catherine Fife MPP	MPP	Waterloo	New Democratic Party of Ontario	No	Recorded without an additional note.
Chandra Pasma MPP	MPP	Ottawa West—Nepean	New Democratic Party of Ontario	No	Recorded without an additional note.
Chris Glover MPP	MPP	Spadina—Fort York	New Democratic Party of Ontario	No	Recorded without an additional note.
France Gélinas MPP	MPP	Nickel Belt	New Democratic Party of Ontario	No	Recorded without an additional note.
Jeff Burch MPP	MPP	Niagara Centre	New Democratic Party of Ontario	No	Recorded without an additional note.
Jennifer (Jennie) Stevens MPP	MPP	St. Catharines	New Democratic Party of Ontario	No	Recorded without an additional note.
Jessica Bell MPP	MPP	University—Rosedale	New Democratic Party of Ontario	No	Recorded without an additional note.
Joel Harden MPP	MPP	Ottawa Centre	New Democratic Party of Ontario	No	Recorded without an additional note.
John Fraser MPP	MPP	Ottawa South	Ontario Liberal Party	No	Recorded without an additional note.
John Vanthof MPP	MPP	Timiskaming—Cochrane	New Democratic Party of Ontario	No	Recorded without an additional note.
Karen McCrimmon MPP	MPP	Kanata—Carleton	Ontario Liberal Party	No	Recorded without an additional note.
Kristyn Wong-Tam MPP	MPP	Toronto Centre	New Democratic Party of Ontario	No	Recorded without an additional note.
Lisa Gretzky MPP	MPP	Windsor West	New Democratic Party of Ontario	No	Recorded without an additional note.
Lise Vaugeois MPP	MPP	Thunder Bay—Superior North	New Democratic Party of Ontario	No	Recorded without an additional note.
Mary-Margaret McMahon MPP	MPP	Beaches—East York	Ontario Liberal Party	No	Recorded without an additional note.
Mike Schreiner MPP	MPP	Guelph	Green Party of Ontario	No	Recorded without an additional note.
Monique Taylor MPP	MPP	Hamilton Mountain	New Democratic Party of Ontario	No	Recorded without an additional note.
Peggy Sattler MPP	MPP	London West	New Democratic Party of Ontario	No	Recorded without an additional note.
Peter Tabuns MPP	MPP	Toronto—Danforth	New Democratic Party of Ontario	No	Recorded without an additional note.
Sandy Shaw MPP	MPP	Hamilton West—Ancaster—Dundas	New Democratic Party of Ontario	No	Recorded without an additional note.
Sol Mamakwa MPP	MPP	Kiiwetinoong	New Democratic Party of Ontario	No	Recorded without an additional note.
Stephanie Bowman MPP	MPP	Don Valley West	Ontario Liberal Party	No	Recorded without an additional note.
Stephen Blais MPP	MPP	Orléans	Ontario Liberal Party	No	Recorded without an additional note.
Ted Hsu MPP	MPP	Kingston and the Islands	Ontario Liberal Party	No	Recorded without an additional note.
Terence Kernaghan MPP	MPP	London North Centre	New Democratic Party of Ontario	No	Recorded without an additional note.
Teresa J. Armstrong MPP	MPP	London—Fanshawe	New Democratic Party of Ontario	No	Recorded without an additional note.
Tom Rakocevic MPP	MPP	Humber River—Black Creek	New Democratic Party of Ontario	No	Recorded without an additional note.
Wayne Gates MPP	MPP	Niagara Falls	New Democratic Party of Ontario	No	Recorded without an additional note.

Official sources

Status, sponsor, votes, and timeline on this page are drawn from these official legislative sources and public records. Each summary above is attributed to its own source.

How this data is sourced